Maidstone

Maidstone's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 160,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Maidstone increased by 12%, from just under 139,000 to 155,000.

The addition of about 16,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Maidstone was home to, on average, 2.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Maidstone

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Maidstone increased by two years, from 39 to 41 years.

This growing rural area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 4,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 12% of people in Maidstone are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Maidstone by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Maidstone

The number of people in Maidstone that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 20,000 in 2001 to about 41,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 27% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Maidstone that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 110,000 in 2001 to about 98,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 63%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 10,000 to just over 11,000. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 7.4% to 7.1%.

Just under 1,700 people (0.5%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 730 in 2001 (1.1%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Maidstone increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Maidstone by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Maidstone

The percentage of Maidstone residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.2% to 6.8% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.3%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage of Maidstone residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Maidstone that rented privately increased from 7.7% to 15% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 13%, while the percentage of Maidstone households that owned their home decreased from 77% to 70%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Maidstone increased by 6.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Maidstone, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Maidstone working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 12% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Maidstone decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Maidstone, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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